Bombay Jayshree signifies Bhava. Review on Amritham - Various Artists

'Amirtham' is a collection of tamil compositions sung by Bombay Jayshree Ramnath. This album has ten songs altogether. Bombay Jayshree's voice has a unique freshness in it and she is one of the few vocalists who gives utmost attention to bhava. While listening to this album, one will definitely feel a transcendental state for more than an hour, because this album is not about just listening, its about feeling the worldly pleasures.

Karuna Nidhiye -This song set in 'Bowli' raagam and Misra thalam starts with a violin prelude. This song sung on the deity Mylapore Karpagambal explains how gracious she is. Bombay Jayshree offers a beautiful rendition with no mistakes in all aspects - sruthi, bhava, pronunciation.

Varuvaaro -Starts with a crisp and beautiful violin prelude in 'saama' raagam. In anupallavi jayshree gives a wonderful neraval for the phrase 'thiruvarur

thenpuliyur'and also listen to the word 'eppodhu' in pallavi.. On the whole, by listening to this song, one can learn the intricacies of saama raagam quite easily.

Engu Naan -Set in 'Dwijavanthi' raaga, this song starts with an alaap from Bombay Jayshree. Though Jayshree had some tough times reaching the high notes,

she manages it very well in latter parts. Previously this raaga is identified based on the song 'Akhilandenshwari', probably after hearing this song, everybody will get more familiar with this raaga. Bombay Jayshree gets more applause in rendering this song with more emphasis on bhava, specifically in pallavi and anupallavi. The flute interludes are mindblowing. Again, this song shows how much importance she gives to the pronunciation.

Kanda Vandarul -This song is in 'Natabhairavi' raagam, on Lord Muruga. Even an athiest will think of god atleast for a minute after listening to this song.

If you hear this song again and again you will definitely feel like you are talking to the Lord directly. I felt it that way. A wonderful rendition by Bombay Jayshree and I dont know who has written this song, hats-off to him. Embar Kannan speaks volumes in his violin. One of her previous album 'Listeners choice' had a song 'Koovi azhaikka koodatha' in sindhubhairavi, which in my opinion was her best effort with respect to bhavam, everybody's heart would melt listening to it and now I think this song can also be added to that list.

Eppadi manam -Sung in 'Huseni' raagam which resembles mugari raagam with very slight modifications. You can find out the difference between mugari and

huseni in the pallavi itself when she sings 'swami' in the fourth neraval and thereafter. This song has the most comprehensive explanation of Huseni raaga. You can also feel this raaga in the first line of charanam. Good work by Jayshree.

Konji Konji -Starts with a soothing flute and violin prelude, this song is in 'Kamaas' raaga. The flute interludes are very subtle and pleasing all over the

song. Though Bombay Jayshree gives full justice to this song in all aspects, the flute and violin interludes surpass her beautiful rendition. Not only the flute and violin are way beyond her performance, also the kanjira and mridangam. So at the outset, each one surpasses the other and brings the best to all of us. Listen to the neraval for 'konji magizh kumara'....I simply have no words to describe. All of them - flute, violin, vocal, mridangam and kanjira have done spellbounding performances.

Raama Naama - A very famous song in 'Desh' raagam. Listen to the flute preludes in this song. WOW! simply astonishing!!!! It explains all the beauty of this

raaga. Bombay Jayshree also proves that she is not inferior to them by giving a whole new experience while listening to this song eventhough one has heard it

a number of times. In this song too, the credit goes to all of them. After 'Thunbam Nergaiyil', this song is a trendsetter for this raaga.

Velane Shiva -Another subtle and pleasant flute and violin prelude. This song is in raaga 'Behaag', one of my favourite raaga. Bombay Jayshree has rendered this song excellently for one can learn the intricacies of Behaag raaga completely after hearing this song. She has used all prayogams of this raaga. Once

again, all the artists have done a wonderful job. This song is very soothing to hear and the flute is very pleasant. Though her rendering make the song seem very easy, it is actually very difficult when you try it yourself.

Virutham - Navaraga maligai -Starts with a flute prelude in a very famous raaga 'Karaharapriya', Bombay Jayshree continues with ease. In the second

interlude, 'Neela shikandiyil', listen to the phrase 'mella thelindhu' which she pronounces exactly the opposite way by giving the stress in 'mella' (periya

la in tamizh instead of chinna la) instead of 'thelindu' (for this she should have used periya la). I am very sorry to point out this mistake but it is very evident when you listen. A well-known artist like her should have avoided this kind of glaring mistakes. Nevertheless to say, the flute interludes are mesmerising.

Thiruppugazh -Once again starts with flute and violin prelude, sung on the raaga 'Hamir Kalyani'. But in this, as far as I am concerned, Bombay Jayshree has

managed to pay a good deal of attention to her pronunciation.

On the whole, I would say this is a must-to-have music album for ardent fans of carnatic music and Bombay Jayshree.